Ja Morant is set to make his return for the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday against the Houston Rockets after an eight-game suspension, and NBA star Kyrie Irving has plenty of sympathy for the 23-year-old.
Morant was ordered to stay away from his team after posing with a firearm on Instagram Live while under the influence of alcohol in a Colorado nightclub earlier this month, prompting widespread criticism and accusations of a lack of maturity. Since being suspended, Morant – who returned to the Grizzlies' facility for practice on Monday – has attended counselling for his behaviour. He was courtside on Monday as his teammates beat the Dallas Mavericks 112-108 at FedExForum.
But Irving, who scored 28 points for the losing Mavs, is no stranger to media scrutiny and believes Morant has been harshly treated for his mistakes.
